CVE-2017-17640 in Advanced World Database
Summary
by MITRE
Advanced World Database 2.0.5 has SQL Injection via the city.php country or state parameter, or the state.php country parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17640 affects Advanced World Database version 2.0.5, a web application designed to provide geographical data including country, state, and city information. This database application exposes multiple entry points that are susceptible to SQL injection attacks, specifically targeting parameters in city.php and state.php scripts. The vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that could allow unauthorized users to execute malicious SQL commands against the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the web application's parameter handling mechanisms. When users submit requests containing country or state parameters to city.php or state.php scripts, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This lack of proper input sanitization creates an environment where attackers can inject malicious SQL payloads through carefully crafted parameter values. The vulnerability specifically targets the country and state parameters in city.php and the country parameter in state.php, making these endpoints primary attack vectors for exploiting the SQL injection flaw.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to the underlying database, potentially leading to data exfiltration, data manipulation, or complete database compromise. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary SQL command execution, which could enable attackers to view sensitive information, modify database records, or even escalate privileges within the database system. Additionally, the exposure of geographical data through this vulnerability could provide attackers with valuable information for further targeting or reconnaissance activities. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects core database functionality that many applications depend upon for geographical data services.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications, and corresponds to tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1190 for exploitation of remote services and T1071 for application layer protocols. The remediation strategy should focus on implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent malicious SQL code from being executed. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input is properly sanitized and validated before being processed by the database. The recommended fix involves implementing prepared statements or parameterized queries throughout the application code, particularly in the city.php and state.php scripts where the vulnerability was identified. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to reject or escape special characters that could be used in SQL injection attacks, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other application components.
The affected application's design architecture appears to lack proper security controls at the input processing layer, which is a common pattern in legacy web applications that were not initially built with security as a primary consideration. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies, including proper input validation, output encoding, and secure coding practices. The persistence of such vulnerabilities in widely used database applications highlights the need for continuous security awareness and regular vulnerability assessment programs. Organizations utilizing similar database applications should conduct immediate assessments to identify other potential SQL injection vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive security measures to protect against these types of attacks.